ISO/IEC 17020:2012
Impartiality Risk Assessment Tool
A tool to identify, analyze, and mitigate risks to impartiality in inspection activities.
Overview
ISO/IEC 17020 requires a continuous process for identifying risks to impartiality. This tool provides a structured framework for this analysis.
Risk Categories
- Ownership: Risks from parent companies or shareholders.
- Governance: Risks from board members or committees.
- Management: Risks from leadership decisions or pressure.
- Personnel: Risks from personal relationships, past employment, or financial interests.
- Shared Resources: Risks from sharing equipment or staff with other departments.
- Contracts: Risks from long-term contracts or dependency on a single client.
Assessment Table
| Risk Source | Potential Conflict | Likelihood | Impact | Risk Level | Mitigation Strategy | Residual Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: Inspector’s brother works for the client | Inspector may be biased to favor the client. | Medium | High | High | Inspector recused from inspecting that client. | Low |
| Example: Fee depends on pass rate | Commercial pressure to pass items. | High | Severe | Critical | Policy change: Fees fixed regardless of outcome. | Low |
Instructions
- Brainstorm potential risks in each category.
- Rate Likelihood (1-5) and Impact (1-5).
- Calculate Risk Level (Likelihood x Impact).
- Develop mitigation strategies for any Medium or High risks.
- Re-assess the Residual Risk to ensure it is acceptable.